Apparatus for the secure transport of containers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus that allows for safe and secure transport of a tank, canister, container or cylinder in the upright position on the seat in a vehicle, using the three point seat belt mechanism provided in the vehicle. The primary use was directed toward transportation of a 20 pound propane tank. An apparatus consisting of a body and a bracket, attachment or mechanism that holds the seats belts in place around the tank or cylinder. The body comes into contact with the tank and the brackets, attachments or mechanism that are a part of the body, allow for the three point seat belt straps to be placed in a proper position to hold the tank against the car seat in the car. There is also a retaining strap that goes around the value area of the tank to hold it in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

I claim the benefits under U.S. Provisional Patent# 61/277,705 filed on Sep. 29, 2009 and titled “Propane tank car carrier” for the secure transport of a tank, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

The inventions relates to the transport of containers, in particular propane tanks, but can also be used for any tank or cylinder.

BACKGROUND

Propane tanks have to be refilled and transported in a car to and from the place of use to the place to be filled. Having a tank that is not secure in a vehicle is unsafe and possesses serious risks. Numerous patents try to address this but do so in other ways. What is needed is an invention that is universal in use and that all owners of tanks could use.

The need to have a simple method to secure a tank in a car is needed and one that can be used simply and by anyone.

SUMMARY

What is described here is an apparatus consisting of a body that comes into contact with the tank and seat or just the tank. The apparatus has a bracket or attachment or mechanism for holding the car seat belt straps against the tank at two points. The body of the apparatus follows the contour of the tank. The tank can be transported in its upright position. There can also be a strap to further secure the tank that goes around its narrower neck or value section. Every modern car comes standard with the three point seat belt system. The tank can be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and held in place during transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Shows a front view of a propane tank positioned in the apparatus with intrinsic brackets with car seat belt in position.

FIG. 2. Shows a cross section of the apparatus with intrinsic brackets and tank from above.

FIG. 3. Shows a side view (left) of a propane tank positioned in the apparatus with intrinsic brackets with the seat belt in position.

FIG. 4. Shows a front view of a propane tank positioned in the apparatus with external brackets with the car seat belt in position.

FIG. 5. Shows a cross section of the apparatus with external brackets and tank from above.

FIG. 6. Shows a side view (left) of a propane tank positioned in the apparatus with external brackets with the seat belt in position.

FIG. 7. Shows a front view of the apparatus with a strap to hold the tank's neck in place

FIG. 8. Shows a cross section of the apparatus with the strap for the tank's neck from above.

FIG. 9. Shows a side view of the left side of the apparatus with the intrinsic brackets

FIG. 10. Shows a side view of the right side of the apparatus with the intrinsic brackets

FIG. 11. Shows a side view of the left side of the apparatus with the extrinsic bracket

FIG. 12. Shows a side view of the right side of the apparatus with the extrinsic bracket.

FIG. 13. Shows a front view of the apparatus with a base with the tank in place and the seat belts in position

FIG. 14. Shows a side view of the apparatus with a base with the tank in place and the seat belts in position.

FIG. 15. Shows a view from the front of the apparatus with the brackets, attachments, or mechanism holding the seat belts in position. In this view the apparatus is in front of the tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I claim the benefits of the provisional patent No. 61/277,705 that was filed on Sep. 29, 2009.

FIGS. 1-14 show the apparatus 1 with and without a tank T in various views. The apparatus 1 has a back area that is flat and goes up against the upright portion of the back seat. The opposite side of the apparatus 1, the front surface, is concave and follows the contour of the tank T.

The apparatus 1 follows the contours of the tank T, but does not completely go around the whole tanks circumference. The apparatus 1 should not go around more than half of the tanks circumference, but could. The apparatus 1 will hold the tank in its upright position. The apparatus 1 may have a base to it as in FIGS. 13 and 14. The height of the apparatus 1 should encompass part of the value protection area and should also come into contact with the main body of the tank T that is closest to the upright portion of the car seat. The more the tank T is in contact with the apparatus 1 the more secure the tank T will be in the car. The apparatus can be made of a rigid or flexible material as long as it comes into contact with the tank and has a way of securing the seat belts in their proper alignment to secure the tank. If flexible, the whole apparatus 1, front and back may follow the contour of the tank, whether partially or completely.

The most important part of the apparatus 1 is the brackets, attachments or mechanism 2,3,4,5, whether intrinsic or external, that aligns the seat belt SB to hold the tank T in a secure position in the car. See FIGS. 9,10,11,12, There is an upper and lower level for the brackets, attachments, or mechanism 2,3,4,5, so that the tank T is held securely at its upper and lower ends.

There is a strap 6 that is attached to the apparatus 1 in the upper portion that further secures tank T to the apparatus 1.

Once the seat belts SB are positioned by their respective brackets, attachments, or mechanism 2,3,4,5, and the male end of the seat belt SB is inserted in the female end that is attached to the car, the tank T and apparatus 1 will be held firmly in place.

The apparatus 1 can also de designed to go in front of the tank such that the brackets, attachments, or mechanism 2,3,4,5, will hold the seats belts SB in their proper position to secure the tank T with the tank T resting up against the rear seat upright. In this aspect the apparatus 1 can be of a flexible or rigid material that allows the seat belts SB to be secured to it in its proper alignment to allow the tank to be secure. With this option the brackets, attachments, or mechanism 2,3,4,5, can be made of Velcro or similar type of strap, that can open and close, to hold the seat belt SB in place so that the seat belt SB is removable from the apparatus 1. See FIG. 15. 

1. An apparatus for securing a propane tank, container or any canister in a car in an upright position using the three point seat belts comprising: a body portion that comes in contact with the tank T going between the upright portion of the rear seat and the tank. The body portion may also go around the front of the tank instead of the rear of the tank when the tank is positioned on the car seat. a bracket or attachment or mechanism, whether intrinsic or external that allows the seats belts to be held in proper position to allow for the secure transport of the tank. The seat belts will hold the tank at its upper and lower points.
 2. The apparatus has a retaining strap for added security to go around the value protector assembly of the tank to prevent the tank from coming loose from the apparatus with the three point seat belt assembly in place.
 3. The apparatus can also have a base that protects the car upholstery from damage as compared to just putting the tank on the car seat, but also allows for wheels to be added.
 4. An apparatus that has brackets or attachments or a mechanism to hold the seat belts in the proper position to secure the tank in the apparatus and prevent its moving during transportation by the vehicle whether it is placed behind the tank or in front of the tank.
 5. The body portion of the apparatus 1 may be rigid or flexible as long as it has brackets or attachments or mechanism to hold and keep the seat belts in their proper alignment around the tank.
 6. Once the tank is positioned in the apparatus on the vehicle seat and the car seat belts are properly placed within each bracket or attachment or mechanism and the seat belt male end is engaged into the female end, and the upper neck strap is secured, the tank will be safe and secure during transportation. The upper neck strap is an addition to add more security to the apparatus, but is not mandatory.
 7. Apparatus doesn't need to completely surround or enclose the tank, but can.
 8. The apparatus goes between the car seat and the tank or can be placed in front of the tank.
 9. The apparatus can be fitted with wheels.
 10. The apparatus can be fitted with a collapsible handle.
 11. The tank must be in its upright position for the apparatus to work.
 12. The brackets or attachments or mechanism that guide the seat belt assembly to hold the tank in place can also be incorporated into the design of the apparatus as grooves or cutouts or straps that open and close on the apparatus. 